For the second consecutive year, regular Central Mass. power Auburn will take on Chicopee Comp in both teams' regular season-opener Friday night.

The No. 4 Rockets, who won the matchup 17-7 last year behind two touchdowns from running back Mark Wright, will head into Chicopee a full week before most of the teams in Central Mass. begin their regular season.

Just a one possession game until the fourth quarter last season, Auburn coach Jeff Cormier expects another tight battle with Chicopee Comp and quarterback Mike Whitsett, who were recently ranked No. 13 in MassLive’s Western Mass. Preseason Top 20.

“Similar to last year, they’re a very well-coached football team who’s disciplined and physical. They have very good athleticism and (Whitsett) is excellent. They don’t make a lot of mistakes, you have to beat them playing them, so we expect the same thing this year,” Auburn coach Jeff Cormier said.

Wright gets a lot of the attention for the Rockets, especially after the senior running back led Central Mass. with over 2,000 rushing yards last season. However, player and coach both said that there is no “goal” for the number of yards Wright obtains on the ground this year. One year after losing to Bartlett in the opening round of the Division V playoffs, the only thing that Wright and the Rockets are focused on is winning games.

“I hope that’s not his goal, and I know that’s not his goal,” Cormier said, “Our goal is to beat Chicopee Comp. Friday night.”

“I just try to work my hardest. Everybody out there just has to work hard to get it done,” Wright said.

A big difference this year for the Rockets will be in sophomore Steve Saucier’s progression at quarterback. The lefty with a big arm will be asked to take on a much larger role for the Rockets this year, becoming more of a vocal leader both in the huddle and at the line of scrimmage. It didn’t take long for Cormier to think of Saucier’s biggest improvement since starting at QB last year as a freshman:

“His confidence. Just his ability to adjust people and move people, he’s a lot more confident running certain plays,” Cormier said. “I think that what he’s capable of doing for us is much greater than it was last year. Now we’re able to do a lot more things.”